How do you like your distressed denim? Epic gaping holes, or a bit of scratching up here-and-there? There are benefits to each level of shred, from being able to sneak a pair of jeans into the office, to some extra AC on warmer spring days. However, we’ve found that most people prefer one extreme to the other. Check out this full spectrum shoppable round-up of distressed denim, and don’t forget to check this out if you’re thinking of doing some DIY distressing of your own.

What are some of your favorite denim trends for spring 2015? Let us know on twitter!

Here in NYC, we’re slowly beginning to daydream about the days where we don’t have to layer on three pairs of tights to leave the house, and while we specialize in expert denim repair, our readers know we love a stylish gaping hole in the knee of our jeans once in a while, too.

A Pair & A Spare recently ran a great post detailing some of their denim DIY distress experiments, using materials like sandpaper, tweezers, and a cheese grater. Check out the results, and try some of them for yourself: Techniques For Distressing Denim.

Question: What’s cooler than a pair of light wash, flawlessly distressed jeans that fit like a glove and go with everything in your fall wardrobe? Answer? Nothing. MC recently received a pair of American Eagle Outfitters Sky High Jeggings from the AE vintage collection, and… well, she hasn’t taken them off ever since. These jeans are AE’s newest fit (and their highest rise, which we love), designed to look like a pair of well-worn vintage jeans, with all the comfort of a denim legging.

What was your first thought when you tried them on?

“Obsessed.”

Where/when would you wear these?

For me, these are the ultimate fall jeans. The sitting-in-coffee-shops, lattes-and-laptops, cozy-on-a-cool day jeans. I’ll be wearing them with my favorite oversize sweaters as often as with my tailored fall jackets. There’s enough distressed action happening above the knee for them to look awesome with knee-high boots, too.

And by the way, they come in 6 washes, so go ahead and try not to find a pair you can’t live without.

How’s the fit?

The high rise is exactly where I want it, and the ankles taper in perfectly. One pet peeve of mine is having too much fabric at the hem (which a bit of Denim Therapy’s hemming and tailoring can take care of), but I love when I try on a pair of jeans and this issue is pre-solved for me.

Leave it to Japan’s denim masters to come up with a massively inventive, super cool new way to get your jeans distressed. Throw ‘em in the lion’s den! Sound extreme? Kamine Zoo in Japan let the wildlife do their thing with jeans this summer. Whatever was left of the denim was sewn together into new pairs (because let’s face it, these wild cats are not just strategically distressing the knees). This was all part of a fundraising effort to raise money for the World Wildlife Foundation and the zoo itself. Cool, huh?

See the finished jeans below:

Of course, you’re welcome to go toss your jeans in with the animals at the local zoo. Just don’t expect anyone else to go fetch them for you.

No lie, we love clean cut skinny jeans and crisp, tailored raw denim… but when it comes to summer living in NYC, we’re always down for a little extra AC in the jeans department. Distressed denim adds edge to any look, whether in light wash boyfriend style or in a punk-inspired black skinny cut. Here are some our favorite pairs of distressed jeans this summer.

Take a hint from the guys this spring and don a pair of boyfriend jeans. Easy to pair with a casual tank or a crisp dress shirt, you can rock this style just about anywhere. A pair of heeled sneakers or wedge sandals, even stilettos, will cap off your look. This, friends, is the only time we’re advocate low rise.

Don’t be bummed that summer’s over—have a little fun with bold prints in your wardrobe! Utilize the versatility of your favorite pair of jeans by mixing them with intense prints and pop colors this season. Not sure how to start? Shop some of our favorite combos.

Last time we linked up with Kuro, they showed us a gradient of denim washed, aged, and treated for different lengths of time, and told us the best way to wear distressed vintage jeans was with a tailored blazer and a crisp, clean button-down. Sound advice that doesn’t expire, it turns out, since we ran into them this week and they were keeping with their vintage meets tailored aesthetic. “Denim for the Yohji fan,” they explained, showing us a dapper mannequin outfitted in the customer image. Selvedge trimmed back pockets, top-stitching, and other details characterize this impressive Japanese brand. Check them out online for more on their philosophy and products.

Think you’ve had enough of all the crazy denim trends this year? We think clothing brand CLOSED will provide some relief with their range of wearable denim from top to bottom. Maintaining a bit of color in its range of jeans, cotton pants and separates, you’ll feel like you could invest in a couple of solid items that will stretch out your wear longer than the seasons. Closed is also one of the few denim brands currently offering denim capris—a perfect cut for ladies who want to show off their new favorite booties. We’re also digging the sartorial touches in the men’s collection. Check out the gallery below for all the Fall-Winter 2012 looks.

There’s been a lot of yellow denim dying lately, with new buttery-hued styles from Rag & Bone, Textile, and more. d.brand is taking a different route with a rich mustard yellow skinny jean, faded slightly on the thigh and featuring a button-up fly front. We love the subtle distressing that sets this pair of jeans apart from its more evenly colored cousins, giving them an earthy tumeric yellow look. Perfect for styling with high-contrast cobalt blue, black, or a more subtle light-wash denim workshirt, they’re a perfect statement making skinny for your fall 2012 wardrobe. We can’t wait to get our hands on a pair.